The United States Department of State hosted a sharing session on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled “Lead Today, Shape Tomorrow: Insights from Professionals.” The event took place in the meeting room of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) on Jalan Muchtar Basri No. 3, Medan, on Tuesday (April 14).
The session featured speakers including Morgan Fagioli, International Visitor Exchange Specialist from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and IVLP Officer, along with IVLP alumni such as OIC UMSU Chair Rafiqah Rizky, M.A., senior journalist and AJI Medan Chair Tonggo Sumangungsong, and SAHdaR Executive Coordinator Ibrahim, S.H.
Participants included students from various universities across North Sumatra, including UMSU’s international class, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Universitas Negeri Medan (Unimed), UIN Sumatera Utara (UINSU), Universitas HKBP Nommensen, Universitas Medan Area (UMA), and Universitas Pembangunan Panca Budi.
The event was officially opened by UMSU Vice Rector III, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rudianto, M.Si., who expressed appreciation for the presence of the IVLP delegation.
“Welcome to UMSU, especially to Morgan. Greetings from the Rector,” he said.
UMSU is recognized as one of the top private universities in North Sumatra, holding an “Excellent” accreditation as well as international accreditation.
On this occasion, he introduced the university and highlighted its strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including its participation in the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings.
He expressed hope that the event would open opportunities for future international collaboration.
“I hope this session will lead to further collaboration through various activities. Thank you to IVLP for sharing leadership knowledge, insights, and experiences about the United States,” he added.
He also encouraged Indonesian students to pursue study opportunities in the United States.
“Hopefully, participants in the future will have the opportunity to study in the U.S. Thank you, and we hope you feel welcomed at UMSU,” he said.
Meanwhile, U.S. Consulate Public Relations Officer Joshua Gonzalez emphasized the importance of leadership among young people in his remarks.
“To all students here, these programs are for all of us. The theme ‘Lead Today, Shape Tomorrow’ is meaningful because shaping the future is essential,” he said.
He encouraged students to start thinking about leadership qualities early on.
“Building dreams doesn’t happen instantly. Let me ask you—what do you think it takes to be a leader? Today is a great opportunity to learn from our speakers,” he added.
According to him, effective leadership requires collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
“To be an effective leader, you need to connect and share ideas with others. Today is a valuable opportunity to learn from experienced speakers,” he explained.
Morgan Fagioli, IVLP Officer, presented the long history of the IVLP program.
“Yesterday, we celebrated 85 years of IVLP. Since 1940, there have been around 4,000 programs with more than 19,000 alumni,” she stated.
She explained that IVLP is not merely a study tour program, but a hands-on leadership experience.
“IVLP is not a study tour—it’s a leadership program for leaders. For example, participants can directly learn about forest management and meet experts in the field,” she said.
Morgan emphasized that curiosity is a key element of leadership.
“Curiosity is essential to becoming a leader. This program helps participants realize the importance of continuously seeking knowledge,” she noted.
She also encouraged students to explore their leadership potential.
“What leadership potential do you have, and how can you become a leader in the future? That is what IVLP aims to develop. The program is unique because each project focuses on a specific priority theme chosen by participants,” she concluded.
This sharing session served as an international dialogue platform for students to gain insights into global leadership while expanding their academic and professional networks across countries.
